From the U-T Polblog: City Hall

Online: Read detailed accounts from the city's and journalists' perspective with the online version of this item at uniontrib.com/more/polblog

designer: please use this refer, not one from a template:A showdown last month between a pair of Union-Tribune staff members and San Diego city officials over financial records has led city officials to post “authorized employees only” signs on the seventh floor of City Hall.

The journalists, reporter Brooke Williams and data specialist Danielle Cervantes, went on June 17 to view checks written by the city.

Williams said she and Cervantes had made at least three requests to see the checks with no response from the Mayor's Office. They decided to go to City Hall in person. The California Public Records Act says public records must be made available during regular business hours.

Williams said city employees tried to help the journalists locate the documents and higher-ups intervened.

An internal report compiled by the city said the journalists wandered unescorted on the sixth floor and used “physical and verbal intimidation” on staff members.

Mayoral spokesman Darren Pudgil said the city has installed “authorized employees only” signs on the seventh floor and is checking on how much it would cost to install a gate or doors.

The documents were released June 29, 12 days after the journalists' visit.